Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has opened his defence in the alleged defamation suit filed against him over remarks about President Bola Tinubu.
The trial resumed on Monday before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, amid concerns that Sowore could be remanded in custody if he fails to meet the bail conditions granted to him last week.
Sowore is facing charges over social media posts on X and Facebook in which he allegedly described President Tinubu as a criminal. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Although he was initially granted bail on self-recognition, the court later revoked the bail after he reportedly failed to comply with its terms. A fresh application subsequently secured his release on bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the conditions, the court ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport and provide a traditional ruler from his community as one of the sureties. He was temporarily released to his lawyer to retrieve the passport, which he said was with the United States Embassy in Lagos.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, A.T. Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had yet to perfect the bail conditions and urged the judge to remand him at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending compliance.
Kehinde argued that court orders must be obeyed, stressing that Sowore had neither fulfilled the conditions nor filed an application seeking a variation of the bail terms.
In response, defence counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), maintained that bail was not intended as punishment and told the court that the verification of the submitted documents had been substantially completed.
He explained that the delay in retrieving the passport was caused by the recent United States holiday commemorating the country’s 250th anniversary and assured the court that the document would be deposited before July 13.
Fusika therefore urged the court to allow Sowore remain in his custody until the next hearing date.
Meanwhile, the defence formally opened its case with the testimony of Abuja-based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who appeared as the first witness.
During examination, Adeyanju told the court that President Tinubu had, during an official engagement in Benue State, stated that citizens have the right to criticise and insult elected leaders as part of democratic freedoms.
He further testified that the President had urged law enforcement agencies and the judiciary not to be used as instruments of oppression against critics.
Video clips containing the alleged remarks were tendered by the defence and admitted in evidence through a flash drive.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until July 13 for continuation of trial.
The case continues to attract public attention because of Sowore’s role as a prominent activist and publisher, with observers closely watching its implications for freedom of expression and the relationship between government and its critics.
